Donors’ contributions for evacuees called unbelievable
Published: September 8, 2005
Arizonans donated more than $100,000 worth of clothing, hygiene products and toys in 24 hours alone for Hurricane Katrina evacuees taking shelter in Phoenix, a Salvation Army official said Tuesday.
“The outpouring from the public’s unbelievable, it’s nonstop,” said Sandi Gabel, divisional development director for the Salvation Army in Phoenix. “We have car after car after car stopping by.”
Arizona officials have designated the Salvation Army as the organization to handle donations of goods and items during a disaster and are asking citizens who want to make donations to drop off new items at the organization’s warehouse in Phoenix.
Requested items include bottled water; new and unused men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, hats, shoes, sandals and flip-flops; some hygiene products, including hair picks and combs, children’s and adult diapers and wipes; phone cards and gift cards; coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, infant toys and hand-held electronics, Gabel said.
One truckload of donated items has been delivered to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where the first 1,000 evacuees sent to Arizona will be housed, and another is loaded and ready to go, she added.
Gabel said between noon Monday and noon Tuesday, the Phoenix donations totaled more than $100,000. “This is a very generous community,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who is helping. If you’re going to be sent somewhere other than your own state, Arizona is a great place to come. They’ve welcomed everyone with open arms.”
On Tuesday afternoon, people waited up to 45 minutes to drop off donations at the Salvation Army.
Michael Brown, whose aunt lost her house in the hurricane, came to leave clothing and stayed when he was told he could help sort out donations. “Overall I think God wants me to help,” he said.
Twelve-year-old Kristopher Young, a seventh grader from Henderson, Nev., traveled seven hours with his mother, Denise, in a pickup pulling a small trailer filled with water and supplies to donate.
“They didn’t really do anything at my school so I’m skipping school to come out here and help,” said Kristopher. “I would say you can be any shape, size, or age and you can do something and you will make an impact.”
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